Amarillo, Texas

Located on the High Plains of Texas, Amarillo enjoys a high ranking on the Milken Institute's Job and Growth Index as well as an unemployment rate of just 4.1%, barely half the national average. Median home price is $140,000, well below the national average of $186,000, and cost of living comes in at 10% below the U.S. norm. Other pluses include no state income tax, abundant physicians and above-average air quality.